When Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella introduced the new Bing, he aptly referred to Google as the ‘800-pound gorilla’ in the online search space, and with good reason. Google has long dominated the world of web search, so much so that the phrase ‘just Google it’ has practically become synonymous with online searching over the years. However, a notable transformation has recently taken place in the familiar Google search landscape. In May of this year, during Google’s flagship event, Google I/O, the company unveiled its AI-powered Google search.
This innovative search experience is no longer confined to the United States; it has now expanded its reach to India and Japan as well. Google made this expansion announcement in a recent blog post, signifying the broadening of the Search Generative Experience (SGE) to a wider audience.
In Google’s own words, “This week, we launched Search Labs in the first countries outside the U.S. — India and Japan — enabling people to opt into SGE to help them better understand topics faster, uncover new viewpoints and insights, and get things done more easily.”
Of particular note is a special feature designed for Indian users. They now have access to a language toggle that facilitates seamless switching between English and Hindi for multilingual speakers. Furthermore, Indian users have the option to listen to search responses, aligning with their popular preferences. Advertisements will continue to be displayed in designated slots throughout the search page.
Much like Microsoft’s AI-powered Bing, Google’s novel approach to search amalgamates information from the internet and presents it in a coherent manner to users. In the typical Google search experience, users encounter a list of links to webpages, necessitating sifting through multiple links to find the desired information. However, with SGE, Google takes on the role of summarizing search results through AI-generated summaries placed at the top of the page. Additionally, Google is emphasizing a more ‘visual’ approach to search, incorporating numerous images into the search results.
What about the original webpage links, you might wonder? They will still be accessible, but users will need to scroll past the AI-generated summary if they wish to delve deeper into the content.
Curious about how to use this feature? To engage with the new search experience, follow these steps:
- Visit Google.com.
- Locate the Search Labs icon at the top right corner of the screen.
- Click on it, and a popup will appear, introducing SGE and generative AI in Search.
- Find the toggle button next to the line that mentions, ‘When turned on, SGE may appear when you search.’
- You can also try an example to see how the new search experience functions. Additionally, there’s an option to provide feedback.
This exciting development promises to redefine how users interact with search engines, making the quest for information more efficient and visually engaging.
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